The scouting report

The scouting report – Game Week 4

Well, they did it again. Both Messrs Giroud and Sturridge maintained their 100% goal-scoring record – although someone else did finally score for Liverpool (Victor Moses on debut no less…). At the other end of the pitch, Mignolet finally let one into the onion bag to lose his clean sheet record.

All those who rushed to sign Ozil were fairly well rewarded – better rewarded at any rate than those who rushed to get in the big-haired one. Game Week 5 sees some big clashes – not least the Manchester derby and with RVP’s current record against the big teams will he be worth keeping in?

The sure thing

Olivier Giroud
At the risk of stating the obvious, Giroud is the man of the moment and over a quarter of a million managers recognised this before the weekend’s fixtures – benefitting from his most prolific week yet (11 points). Stoke are the latest team to try and keep him off the scoresheet – but be aware that he’s carrying a knee injury that means he’s not guaranteed a start. Maybe wait until after the Champs League game.

Surprise package

Jonjo Shelvey
Even the fact that Shelvey was up against his former employers didn’t tempt many to add him to their teams – in fact, it prompted just under 8,000 to ditch him. However, Jonjo roared into life last night by scoring one and setting up the other three (two for Liverpool – more than he did last year when he played for them!). He now has only three points less than his total haul for 2012/13 –can he kick on?

Mr Consistent

Jose Fonte
There’s definitely something in the water in Southampton. Not only have they turned Rickie Lambert into an international, but an unheralded defence has now kept two clean sheets already this season. (Fonte got three in the whole of last season). Fonte’s knack for the odd goal has made him the leading candidate out of his back-four colleagues.

Biggest shock

Chelsea FC
Perhaps a bit unfair to choose a whole team, but when you look at their squad it beggars belief that they have only scored 3 goals between them in the first four games of the season – and the strikers have yet to score any at all! It’s surely only a matter of time (Fulham at home this weekend), but will Jose be regretting those loan deals for Lukaku and Moses?

Worth a punt

Adnan Januzaj
All the fuss in the summer was about Wilfried Zaha, but after an eye-catching pre-season, Januzaj seems to have leapfrogged him in the United pecking order. The Belgian teenager’s first start of the season drew plenty of comment from the pundits after he won the free kick for Rooney’s goal – plus, he’s cheap for a Man Utd midfielder (only £4.6 million) and already has more points than Nani and Kagawa.